Improvement in ironing-machines



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE;

GIDEON WV. COTTINGHAM, OF SAINT MARYS, TEXAS, ASSIGNOR TO HIMSELF AND JAMES P. COTTINGHAM, OF SAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT in lRONlNG-MACHLNES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 144,743, dated November 18, 1873; application filed October 27, 1873.

- To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, Gannon W. COTTING- HAM, of Saint Marys, in the county of Refugio and State of Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ironing-Machines; and I do. hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, referient and efficient in operation, and durable in use; and it consists in an improvement in that class of machines having a movable table 0perated by a crank; in the construction and combination of the parts moving the table; and in the arrangement of the parts which govern the iron; and in the construction of the iron, as hereinafter more fully described.

The following description will enable others skilled in the art to which this invention appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 represents a longitudinal section of a machine embodying my invention taken through line as w of Fig. 2. Fig. 2 represents a vertical section of the same taken through line y y of Fig.1; and Fig. 3 represents a sectional,

view of the iron.

A represents the frame supporting the machine, having two uprights, A A, at the rear part thereof, and provided with cross-bars B. B. G. represents two guides, secured to the frame A, and provided with friction-rollers a w. The rollers support the table and allow the same to be easily moved back and forth, while the guides serve to keep the table in proper position. The table consists of the base b, the front and rear vertical parts b b, and the elevated part E, the latter being the ironing-surface, which is padded in the usual manner. F represents a roller, placed transversely beneath the table, and suitably journaled in the frame. H represents cords passing once around the roller F, the ends being fastened to each end of the table. At the rear of the machine the end of the roller is provided with a crank, G, and also a pulley, I, which connects with the pulley or band wheel K by the band or belt J. The wheel K is upon a shaft which passes through the cross-bar B, the end of said shaft being formed into a crank, L, extending out toward the front of the machine. M represents a treadle, secured to the rock-shaft, which has hearings in the frame. Near the front end of the treadle the cord 0 is secured, said cord passing over pulley 0, under pulley d, and over pulley c, and secured to the lever P, which is attached to the rock-shaft R, having bearin gs in the uprights A A. S represents a curved arm, which is attached to the rock-shaft R, and extending outward to the front of the machine, and provided with a handle, h. The said arm S has braces ff, extending from the arm to the rock-shaft R. T

represents the iron, being open at the rear and provided with ChilI LIIGYQ and handle j. This iron is provided 'th a pan, U, having an open ing, it, in the r ar and a lip, k, near the front part, for convenience in moving the same from the iron when hot. The iron is suspended over the table D, being connected to the arm S.

I11 operating the invention, if two persons use the machine, one stands at the rear at the crank G, which, through the medium of the roller F and cords H, moves the table back and forth, as desired; but if only one person uses the machine, the table may be operated from the front of the machine by the crank L,

which connects with the roller F throughthe medium of the wheel K, band J, and pulley I. The iron, when full size, weighs sixty pounds, and will always, when left free, have that amount of pressure upon the table. If less pressure is required, the operator places one foot upon the treadle M, which is connected to the iron by cord 0, lever P, and arm S, and presses down, by which means the pressure of the iron is regulated to any degree less than the weight of the iron. .If a greater pressure is required, it is only necessary to press down upon the handle h. The vertical parts I) b of the table are for the purpose of keeping the T, rock-shaft R, and uprights B B, all constructed and arranged for operation, as and for the purpose specified.

3. In combination with the iron T, the arm S, rock-shaft R, lever P, cord 0, and treadle M, all constructed for operation, as and for the purpose specified.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

GIDEON W. GOTTINGHAM. Witnesses:

J. POINDEXTER OOTTINGI-IAM, T. HALEXANDER. 

